Flink and Helios Motorcycles

Bayerische FlugzeugWerke Motorcycles

Flink

The company built a motorised bicycle with a 148cc engine from Curt Hanfland of Berlin, and was also responsible for the Helios from which the first BMW motorcycle was developed.

BFW had been an aircraft manufacturer during WWI, producing some 200 machines per month with a workforce of 3000. In 1921 an Austrian financier began making moves to acquire the company, and in 1922 or 1923 the merger of BFW and BMW took place. BFW became a separate company again in 1926 and was joined by Willy Messerschmitt in 1927. BFW was renamed Messerschmitt AG on July 11, 1938.

Helios

1921-1923

Built by Bayerischen Flugzeugwerke 1921-1922, and then by BMW in 1923.

GTU differs on this and their entry may be interpreted thus:

"The Helios was not designed by BMW, but was built there from 1921. The engine of the Helios was a 500er M2B15 two-cylinder boxer, which was also used in the first Victoria machines. The Helios, commonly referred to as the precursor of BMW motorcycles, was improved by Max Friz and Martin Stolle and then came on the market as a BMW R32, the same model designation Helios used in 1922."